CHILDREN

Slovenia

Slovenia is a country in Central Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy on the West, the Adriatic Sea on the Southwest, Croatia on the South and East, Hungary on the Northeast and Austria on the North. The capital and largest city of Slovenia is Ljubljana.

Slovenia covers an area of 20,273 square kilometres and has a population of 2.06 million. Around 40 percent of Slovenia’s land mass is elevated land - mostly in the form of mountains and plateaus which is located in the interior regions of the country.

The highest point of Slovenia is the 2,864 metre (9,396 ft) high Mount Triglav. The majority of the population speaks Slovene, which is also the country’s official language. Other local official languages are Hungarian and Italian.

Slovenia is a member of the European Union, the Eurozone, the Schengen area, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the Council of Europe, NATO, UNESCO, WTO, OECD and UN. It is the richest Slavic nation-state and is 85.5 percent of the EU27 average GDP (PPP) per capita.

The oldest signs of human settlement in present-day Slovenia were found in the Jama Cave in the Loza Woods near Orehek in Inner Carniola, where two stone tools approximately 250,000 years old were recovered. During the last glacial period, present-day Slovenia was inhabited by Neanderthals; the most famous Neanderthal archeological site in Slovenia is a cave close to the village of Sebrelje near Cerkno, where the Divje Babe flute, the oldest known musical instrument in the world was found in 1995. In the transition period between the Bronze age to the Iron age, the Urnfield culture flourished.

Courtesy: Wikipedia

Children’s Day and Elder’s Day tomorrow

Dear Children,

Children and elders are very important sections in our society. Hence tomorrow October 1 is their day. In fact the world would be a much duller place without children and elders.

It is a happy coincidence that Universal Children’s Day and Elders Day are observed on the same day by most countries. Government authorities and several organizations in Sri Lanka too have organized several events to mark this twin event.

I am sure most of the schools too have organized various programs to mark the day.

Children and elders around the world deserve a better deal.

Our thoughts and actions on children and elders should not be limited to October 1. There are things we can do at individual level against the exploitation of children and older persons.

Let us make a better world for children, elders.

Rain, rain and more rain

The rains are here and when it rains it pours. So, make sure you carry your umbrella, caps and raincoats when you go out these days.

The months of September and October are considered as rainy season. Do you love to play in the rain? I am sure most of you children love to. But beware you only will have to suffer if you catch a cold or fever.

This is also the kite season and hope the rains will not dampen the spirits of those kite flyers.

Bye for now. Have a funfilled week ahead.

Aunt Anji

History of Sri Lanka Post

Ceylon joined the Universal Postal Union on April 1, 1877 and again on July 13, 1949 after Independence joined the Universal Postal Union and created a world first

Sri Lanka Post was established by the Dutch rulers way back in 1798 in the Maritime Provinces of the country with five offices. Today it has grown into a mammoth organization with more than 19,000 employees. Sri Lanka Post serves a population of nearly 20 million inhabitants in Sri Lanka. During the existence of Sri Lanka Post, though known by various names, it continues to serve the populace with dedication.

Sri Lanka Post has a long history of 209 years, dating back to 1798 when the Colonial Dutch rulers started five post offices in the Maritime districts that were under their control and in 1799 they published the first ever postal regulations and postage rates. The ‘East-India Company’ operated the Postal service which the Dutch started and the service was not meant for the public but for official use. Documentation is not available of the service for the period between 1798 and 1815.

In 1815, the British took control of the country. They re-organized the postal service and a permanent Post Office was established in Colombo in 1882.

The first Post Master General of Ceylon was A Kennedy, an Air Army Officer. However as far back as 1815, there had been a Post Master Generals such as E Bletterman who was the PMG for the whole island. Thereafter in 1817 Lewis Sansoni succeeded Bletterman as the second Postmaster General. The third Postmaster General was Major G Stewart and he was instrumental in extending the postal services to major towns in the country. Ceylon Post and Telecommunications Department, as it was known then, has many a first to its credit.

Ceylon joined the Universal Postal Union on April 1, 1877 and again on July 13, 1949 after Independence joined the Universal Postal Union and created a world first.

On April 1, 1857 the first stamp was issued in penny denominations, the Queen Victoria’s Issue. This was five years after Britain introduced the postage stamp to the world. The first stamp to be issued in local denomination of rupees and cents was on February 1, 1892. As Sri Lankans we should be proud of our great postal history and heritage.

Alfred Edwin / Grade 8 Science A / O.K.I International School, Wattala

Disappear without a trace

In ‘Kid’s Den’...

- Part 39

By Uncle Sachi and Aunt Ruwi

Four children, Pramodaka, Nalaka, Champika and Chinthaka, go on a trip to the woods with their parents for their school holidays. In the middle of the night the children are awakened by a strange noise. On following their dog, Scooby, Chinthaka is snared by the spell of the ‘luring stones’. Pramodaka departs with Ruwi, a pixie, to recall a book of spell to cast off the spell while the others remain behind with Sachi, a gnome. A storm breaks and the kids are scattered.

Meanwhile Sulo, the goblin who is always trying to make trouble for the mythical creatures, comes up with a nasty plan. She rushes off gang up the rest of her pack and reveals an age old secret.

However the group discovers that it is not only Sulo’s secret that is uncovered by the storm. Something dark and deadly had been hidden in the depths of the earth waiting to release itself and return for revenge...

(‘Return of the Kids’ is the sequel to ‘Kid’s Den’)

Zira blinked once. Then twice. He looked wildly around him.

“Where is she? She was standing right here, lost in her own thoughts.”

Shamilka and Pramodaka too looked puzzled.

“Maybe she wandered to the other side of the garden. Wait. Let me have a look,” the rabbit replied. He looked towards the two gnomes who were on guard at the entrance. They seemed to be occupied with someone else. In fact, they seemed to be engrossed in an argument with someone outside the entrance. All was well for the moment. He can have a quick look around.

He hopped to all around the small ground. Though the garden was one of the most beautiful places he had ever seen, he had no time to admire its beauty. He was too worried about all the strange things that were going on.

First Ruwi and Sachi appear with a pack of kids.

Then the kids are blown away by a storm. Next HE creates some unnecessary trouble. Soon news that Sachi had gotten into trouble reaches them and now, to cap it all, Ruwi had disappeared. Whatever is next?

There was a small brook running across the garden with a marble statue of a lovely elf holding a pot. Sparkling water was dripping from its opening. It was indeed a lovely sight, especially sings some water lilies of all shades surrounded the statue. Pramodaka had heard that the Elder’s headquarters was one of the most beautiful places on earth, second only to Jay’s home and the elves dwelling place high up on the dunes of the immortals but he gave the place a casual glance before hurrying back to his friends.

“Well?”

He met Shamilka’s eyes.

“Nothing!”

“But she can’t just disappear! She was right in front of us...”

“My dad says that extremely powerful magic can make you disappear without a trace. Like... if someone wants to summon you. He said that once Zelda tried to summon all the Elders to her dungeon but Chief cast spell to stop her...”

Shamilka gave Zira a startled look. Pramodaka shivered.

“But Zelda is gone now.... Isn’t she? Jay, the elves and the Elders vanquished her...”

“That’s what they say...”

They nearly jumped out of their skin as a shriek ran through the castle.

“Goodness that sounds like Mallie. What on earth had happened to her?” Zira gasped. They watched helplessly as some of the gnomes and pixies on duty rush up the stairs to the main office.

To be continued